Mark Pascal and Francis Schott were two friends from Rutgers who had a shared passion for food and a love for the emerging City of New Brunswick. After graduating from Rutgers and working in other restaurants for a few years, they decided to strike out on their own, opening Stage Left Steak.

In 2005, Catherine Lombardi was opened to honor Mark's late grandmother, Catherine Lombardi, with all of her recipes and a dining room modeled after Sunday dinner at her home. With the same remarkable wine list, cocktail program, and commitment to using fresh ingredients, this restaurant does fine dining in an inviting, comfortable environment.

Our restaurants have always been greenmarket-driven and seasonal, celebrating the best of what’s local. We’ve always sought out estate-bottled wines from small producers, beer and spirits from craftsmen, and made great cocktails with fresh ingredients from scratch. We were among the first restaurants in the state to follow these principles and we are as passionate about them today as we were back in the early 90s.

But above all of these, Mark and Francis' primary focus is to provide a warm and welcoming place for New Brunswick locals and visitors from the four corners of the planet. Whether it’s a civilized drink and an appetizer at the bar, or a tasting menu in the dining room, we’re always happy to have you.

And now, with the Restaurant Guys Podcast, you can take a little bit of the guys' incredible banter, warmth, and love of food with you wherever you go!